Declipper tool

ABSTRACT

A declipper blade assembly for removing a clip from the end of a sausage package, the assembly including a pair of plates mounted on a power head in a parallel spaced relation, a curved end piece mounted in the space between the end of the plates, a curved cutting blade pivotally mounted on the power head between the end of the plates, the cutting blade including a cutting edge on the end thereof for cutting the clip from the end of a sausage package, the clip being discharged through the space between the pair of plates.

RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 08/035,420, filed on Mar. 23, 1993, now U.S. Pat. No.5,454,754, entitled: "Toe Web Gland Cutting Tool." The cutting tool isreadily adaptable to a universal power head such as shown and describedin U.S. Pat. No. 5,152,713, entitled "Universal Power Head For HandOperated Tools."

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a declipper for removing the clip froma sausage package and more particularly to a double curved cutting bladeassembly which is readily adapted for connection to a universal powerhead.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A particularly troublesome operation in the handling of packaged meatsis the removal of the metal clip attached to the end of the package. Theclip is mounted in abutting relation to the end of the package, thusmaking it difficult to remove the clip.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

The cutter blade assembly according to the present invention is designedto remove the clip provided on the end of a sausage package. The bladeassembly includes a pair of plates which are mounted on an universalpower head in a parallel spaced relation with a curved blade mounted onthe end of the plates. A planar blade is pivotally mounted in the spacebetween the plates which includes a curved cutting edge on the outer endof the blade. The planar blade passes through the space between theplates in close proximity to the curved blade to cut the clip from thepackage and discharge the clip through the space between the end of theplates. The cutter blade assembly is pivotally mounted on a universalhead and simultaneously pivots the plates and the blade to completelyremove the clip.

One of the primary advantages of the blade assembly is the ability toperform this step in the process of opening a sausage package in asingle step.

A further advantage of the cutter blade assembly is the provision of ablade on the end of the inner blade which draws the clip into engagementwith the curved blade provided between the side plates thus completelyremoving the clip in a single stroke.

The clip removing assembly is mounted on a universal head forsimultaneously pivoting the arcuate cutting blades toward each other toquickly and easily cut the clip from the end of the sausage package.

Other principal features and advantages of the invention will becomeapparent to those skilled in the art upon review of the followingdrawings, the detailed description and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top view of the declipper blade assembly shown mounted on auniversal power head;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the declipper shown connected to the powerhead;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 showing the declipper assembly in theclosed position;

FIG. 4 is a view of the declipper assembly partly broken away to showthe cutting blades; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the declipper blade assembly.

Before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail itis to be understood that the invention is not limited in its applicationto the details of construction and the arrangement of the components setforth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. Theinvention is capable of other embodiments or being practiced or carriedout in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseologyand terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description andshould not be regarded as limiting.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The declipper blade assembly 10 according to the present invention asshown in the drawings is mounted on a universal power head 12. The powerhead generally includes a piston and cylinder assembly 14 having ahandle 16 mounted on each side of the power head. The declipper bladeassembly 10 is mounted on the power head 12 and actuated by means of thepneumatic piston and cylinder assembly 14. The piston and cylinderassembly 14 is actuated by a trigger 22 provided on the handles 16. Atrigger guard 23 is provided in the front of each trigger 22. As isgenerally understood actuation of the piston and cylinder assembly 14 isaccomplished by gripping one of the handles 16 and squeezing the trigger22. Actuation of the trigger 22 pressurizes the piston and cylinderassembly 14 to close the blade assembly 10 on the clip 47 on the end ofthe package 51.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3 the declipper assembly 10 according to theinvention is shown mounted on the universal power head 12 which isactuated by means of the pneumatic piston and cylinder assembly 14. Asnoted above the piston and cylinder assembly 14 is actuated by means ofone of the triggers 22 provided on handle 16. A piston 24 is provided inthe cylinder 26 and is connected to the blade assembly 10 by means of apiston rod 25. Actuation of one of the triggers 22 pressurizes theforward end of the cylinder 26 to close the declipper blade assembly 10on the rearward stroke of the piston 24 which is connected to the pistonrod 25. The blade assembly 10 is opened on the forward stroke of thepiston 24.

The declipper assembly 10 generally includes a pair of side plates 30and 32, FIG. 1, connected at one end by means of a cutting blade 34which is secured to the end of the side plates 30 and 32 by means ofscrews 36. The side plates 30 and 32 are pivotally mounted on a bolt 38on handle 16. A declipper blade 42 having a curved cutting edge 49 isalso pivotally mounted on bolt 38. It should be noted that the sideplates 30 and 32 are connected to the piston and cylinder assembly 12 bymeans of a pair of links 40 secured to the piston rod 25 by bolt 44 andto the ends of the side plates 30 and 32 by a screw 46 and nut 48. Thedeclipper blade 42 is also connected to the piston rod 25 by links 43which are connected to bolts 44 and 45.

The side plates 30 and 32 are connected at their outer ends by means ofthe cutting blade 34 which has a curvature corresponding to thecurvature of the edge 49 of the declipper blade 42. With thisarrangement the edge 49 of the declipper blade 42 is aligned in thespace between the metallic clip 47 and the end 51 of the sausagepackage. The curved cutting edge 35 of the cutting blade 34 is alignedin the space between the bottom of clip 47 and the end of the sausagepackage 51. The cutting edge 49 of the blade 42 is aligned in the spacebetween the top of the clip 47 and the end of the sausage package 51.The cutting edge 49 of blade 42 will cut the clip 47 off the end of thesausage package. The clip will drop through the space 50 between theside plates 30 and 32. It should be noted that a relief 55 is providedon the inside surface of the plates 30 and 32 to provide sufficientclearance for the clip to drop between the plates 30 and 32.

Thus, it should be apparent that there has been provided in accordancewith the present invention a declipper tool that fully satisfies theobjectives and advantages set forth above. Although the invention hasbeen described in conjunction with specific embodiments thereof, it isevident that many alternatives, modifications and variations will beapparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, it is intended toembrace all such alternatives, modifications and variations that fallwithin the spirit and broad scope of the appended claims.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed are defined as follows:
 1. A declipper assembly forremoving a clip from the end of a sausage package which is adaptable toa universal power head, said assembly comprising a pair of platespivotally mounted in a parallel spaced relation on the power head and anend plate having a curved cutting edge interconnecting the ends of theplates, and a cutter blade mounted on the power head for pivotal motionbetween said plates, said cutter blade having a cutting edge whichmatingly engages the cutting edge on the end plate to cut the clip fromthe end of the package.
 2. The cutter blade assembly according to claim1 including a recess in the inside surface of the plates for dischargingthe clip between said plates.
 3. The cutter blade assembly according toclaim 1 wherein the cutter blade has a curved cutting edge conforming tothe inside curve of the curved cutting edge on the end plate.